ELDER SAM GEORGE | DAYTIME CUSTODIANS | NATIONAL CONVENTION | CUPE LIFESAVERS
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE WINTER 2022
THE FUTURE IS FEMALE WOMEN NOW LEAD B.C.’S FIVE LARGEST UNIONS
GOING ALL IN ON CHILDCARE
CUPE BC launches major campaign to expand school-based care
Let’s make it happen. Visit publicchildcarenow.ca
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LEADING US
KAREN RANALLETTA, PRESIDENT
SOLIDARITY Karen Ranalletta, at the podium to run elections for the Hospital Employees’ Union convention, with (from left) HEU Financial Secretary Betty Valenzuela, Secretary-Business Manager Meena Brisard, and President Barb Nederpel.
Facing B.C.’s challenges together in 2022 Welcome to the Winter 2022 edition of Public Employee. Though you will receive this issue well before January 1, I want to extend my best wishes to all CUPE members in B.C. for a very Happy New Year. Of course we hope that, as 2022 begins, we will start to see the COVID-19 pandemic more in the rearview mirror and less in the daily news. As we say goodbye to 2021, our Karen Ranalletta focus now is on advocating for public childcare. Childcare is a critical public service for everyone, regardless of whether they have young kids — or whether they have kids at all. I don’t have kids of my own, but I see childcare as an issue of economic fairness. We’re now advocating for childcare for school-aged kids (5–12) to be located in public schools throughout B.C. For the full details about our campaign, see the cover feature on pages 8–11 and visit publicchildcarenow.ca.
We all have a responsibility to do our part to tackle climate change. It’s obviously moved past the warning signs — the climate emergency is here in our communities, and we need to listen to the scientists who have been ringing the alarm bells and take collective action. In the meantime, CUPE BC continues to draw inspiration from the efforts of our members in response to these disasters, and we’ve established a Disaster Relief Fund to support members who’ve been impacted by them (see opposite). Since being elected as your president, I’ve had the opportunity to connect with cabinet ministers, senior bureaucrats and political staff in Victoria, and to present our views on a wide range of issues. I was also able to join other officers of the BC Federation of Labour at a rally at the Legislature in support of 10 days’ employer-provided paid sick leave for all workers. It’s unfortunate that the campaign fell short — the government announced that it would be implementing five days of paid sick leave — but we will continue our push to have the program expanded to 10 days.
Climate crisis impacts close to home
On my bookshelf
In addition to the COVID-19 pandemic and the epidemic of opioid overdose deaths, British Columbians have been hit hard by the impacts of the climate crisis this year. The worst wildfire season in provincial history — as an aside, when did we get used to there being something called “wildfire season” in the first place? — along with a heat dome that caused so many deaths, was followed by catastrophic floods and mudslides that also killed people and caused billions of dollars of damage in destroyed homes, livestock, and infrastructure.
In the interest of promoting both literacy and the work of our members at public libraries, I thought I’d use this space to share what I’m reading right now. I hope you can check out one or more of these titles at your local library or independent bookstore: Please Don’t Sit on My Bed in Your Outside Clothes by Phoebe Robinson, Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead, and Falling For Myself by Dorothy Ellen Palmer. FOLLOW KAREN on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram: @kranalletta
MEMBERS ON THE FRONT LINE
CUPE ACT ION
CUPE members step up during B.C. flooding
Campus workers launch B.C.-wide campaign CUPE locals representing more than 14,000 workers at B.C. colleges and universities have launched a campaign calling for better funding for post-secondary education. The Fund BCs Future campaign highlights the crucial role investments in colleges and universities will have on tackling some of the province’s biggest challenges. You can support this campaign by visiting FundBCsfuture.ca.
Job evaluation ruling big win for CUPE 23 BURNABY | CUPE 23 recently won a major arbitration bringing overdue pay equity to parks and recreation clerical members. More than 200 workers will receive wage increases and retroactive pay to January 1, 2016, totalling about $1.5 million — a minimum of $2,000 in yearly additional wages for full-time workers. The decades-long fight for pay equity began when a re-classification increase for clerks at City Hall was denied to parks and recreation clerks who did the same work. CUPE 23 President Bruce Campbell credits the hard work of the bargaining committee, executive and members for the win. The 2016 bargaining committee negotiated a Memorandum of Agreement giving the local the right to grieve if agreement on job evaluation could not be reached by a two-person committee. “Thanks to the 2016 bargaining committee and the current executive who kept us moving forward these last five years,” said Campbell. “We held the line and did not give up on the grievance.”
CUPE members were on the front lines of disaster response in the wake of B.C.’s latest extreme weather event, particularly in the Fraser Valley where the efforts of municipal workers in Abbotsford and Chilliwack made a difference in keeping flood waters at bay. Members of CUPE 744 and CUPE 458 protected their communities when the Barrowtown pump station, maintained by the cities of Abbotsford and Chilliwack, was threatened by flood waters flowing north from the Nooksack River across the Sumas Prairie. More than 150 city staff, volunteers and farmers built a 25-metrelong sandbag wall overnight during the record rainstorm that hit the region hard. A failure at the station would have been catastrophic for the entire Fraser Valley. “Our CUPE BC family is so proud of the amazing CUPE members in the Valley and those from multiple locals throughout B.C. who stepped up, going above and beyond to take care of each other and their communities,” said CUPE BC President Karen Ranalletta. “The heroic efforts of CUPE members — ambulance paramedics, emergency dispatchers, and municipal workers in particular — kept people safe during this disaster.” CUPE 458 represents members in seven units in six municipalities and regions. President Darlene Worthylake said it was amazing to see the goodwill and desire to
HEROIC EFFORT CUPE 774 members at the Barrowtown pump station on November 20. PHOTO: DENNIS LIVINGSTONE be a part of a collective effort to help people. For those who lived in other communities and either couldn’t get to work or needed a place to stay, the Local put out a call to host or be hosted. In Yarrow, members went door to door with police and fire fighters to help evacuate people. In Hope, more than 500 people were put up in the secondary school gymnasium. Members were dealing with the pandemic at the same time as the flooding — they had to shift people from the gym to classrooms and back again after disinfecting the bleachers by hand. Worthylake said that workers in Chilliwack worked all night doing whatever needed to be done, including helping people cope with the multiple road closures. “I view our members and this community as my people, a community who became a family,” she said.
CUPE BC establishes Disaster Relief Fund CUPE BC’s Executive Board voted in November to establish a Disaster Relief Fund to support CUPE members impacted by the recent catastrophic floods and mudslides. “This past summer we established an emergency fund to assist members impacted by the wildfires, and we said that any unspent funds would be donated to charity,” said CUPE BC Secretary-Treasurer Trevor Davies. “In light of the terrible impact of the recent flooding and mudslides, the executive board has decided to convert the remaining funds to a Disaster Relief Fund to help any CUPE members who need financial assistance to make it through this situation.” Davies said the B.C. Division has encouraged all CUPE locals in B.C. to contribute to the fund if they can.
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CUPE ACT ION
MEMBERS ON THE FRONT LINE
VOICES
CUPE MEMBERS IN THE MEDIA
“They are saying they are burnt out, crying before and after their shifts, having nightmares of being understaffed and being called out for overtime knowing that their friends on the front line are stretched thin and that there are people waiting for their calls to be answered.” — CUPE 8911 President Donald Grant shares in an interview what members have been telling him during the E-Comm 9-1-1 funding/staffing crisis. Global News Morning, November 6, 2021. “The agreement we negotiated is reasonable, given the circumstances and the challenging times we’ve all gone through with this pandemic…CUPE 386 members are proud to provide services that are essential to Coquitlam families and residents even in difficult times.” — CUPE 386 President Gord Willis, on a new two-year contract with the City of Coquitlam that includes two-per-cent wage increases for both years. Tri-City News, November 18, 2021. “The deal provides labour stability during an uncertain time and allows us to carry on providing the excellent public service the RDN strives for.” — CUPE 401 President Blaine Gurrie commenting on the ratification of a new four-year contract with the Regional District of Nanaimo. Nanaimo News Bulletin, October 13, 2021. “We are thrilled to welcome these workers into our union, their natural home as employees of United Way… This decision is not only good for these workers and our local but also for United Way’s brand as a community-based non-profit society.” — CUPE 1760 President Debra Elless, on a Labour Board of BC ruling that confirmed her local as the bargaining agent for United Way employees under the newly amalgamated entity. Kelowna Daily Courier, October 6, 2021. “It’s the biggest change I’ve seen in my 33 years in the ambulance service at once…I’ve got to give credit where credit is due. [B.C. Health Minister Adrian] Dix is really committed to the ambulance service. He went to bat for us.” — CUPE 873 President Troy Clifford thanks the provincial government for agreeing to convert 24 ambulance stations, in more rural and remote areas of the province, from part-time coverage to 24/7 service. Burns Lake District News, September 29, 2021. “Belonging to a union and negotiating a fair contract leads to a respectful workplace. We welcome these municipal workers into our local and look forward to working with them to secure a first collective agreement.” — CUPE 2086 President David Duval welcomes eight employees of the Village of Granisle to his local. The Interior News (Smithers), August 19, 2021.
CUPE 8911 ramps up public campaign to save E-Comm 9-1-1 SYSTEM AT RISK WITHOUT NEW FUNDING FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS VANCOUVER | An ongoing campaign to raise awareness about critical underfunding and staff shortages at E-Comm 9-1-1 ramped up in the Fall as CUPE 8911 took their message to the media and to the 37 municipal councils in B.C. that primarily fund the service. Recent crises of long wait times and unanswered calls — a top news story during the summer heat wave — are symptomatic of an understaffed and underfunded service, says the Local. “The 911 system is a basic and universal necessity critical to public health and safety for all British Columbians,” said CUPE 8911 President Donald Grant. “When you call 9-1-1 in an emergency, every second can mean the difference between life and death. So the current situation is creating a dangerous cycle.” A recent report, commissioned by E-Comm from Price Waterhouse Coopers, concluded that the company is hampered by an understaffed system that either relies too heavily on overtime and staff missing breaks or simply abandons efforts to meet service levels. The report suggests that the current roster of 153 full-time call takers and other staff needs to increase by 125 to meet operational demands. In 2020, overtime totaled more than $2,950,000, which would have supported 35 new FTEs. E-Comm is supported proportionally by 37 municipal governments and all of B.C.’s regional districts, based on population. CUPE 8911 is calling for both an immediate infusion of financial resources into E-Comm to “rightsize” the operations and a coordinated effort by municipalities to update the organization’s funding formula to prevent future crises. Thanks to a cost-shared campaign with CUPE National, Local 8911 has enacted a strategic plan to achieve these objectives. The campaign, which has led to media coverage and meetings with the provincial government and the City of Vancouver, includes a fullcolour backgrounder document with supporting graphics that was sent to municipal governments, a campaign web page containing a petition addressed to local officials, a video to be distributed via social media boosts, and, in later stages, transit advertising. To support the campaign, visit: ecpbc.ca/secondscount
MEMBERS ON THE FRONT LINE
CUPE ACT ION
Health members speak out on pandemic impacts
TEAM CUPE Delta candidate Monica Dean and campaign manager Randy Anderson-Fennell join NDP leader Jagmeet Singh before the Sept 20 vote.
CUPE activism nets federal NDP gains September’s federal election produced some encouraging results for the NDP in B.C. — all incumbents were re-elected and the party picked up two new seats. It wasn’t the hoped-for breakthrough, but with the Liberals remaining a minority government the NDP is well-placed to hold Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to account in Parliament. CUPE members were a big part of the NDP’s success in B.C. as candidates, campaign staff and volunteers. Former CUPE member Laurel Collins was re-elected in Victoria, while CUPE members Monica Dean (Delta) and Cory Longley (Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies) were great candidates in their ridings. CUPE BC Regional Vice President (North) Stephanie Goudie managed Longley’s campaign and Randy Anderson-Fennell was campaign manager in Delta. The work of CUPE members, active in 25 canvass events across 17 ridings in B.C., was singled out for praise in the Canadian Labour Congress’s post-election de-brief.
Earlier in the Fall, CUPE began work on a cost-shared campaign to build morale for Community Health members in B.C. while raising public awareness about the value of their work and their added mental health challenges during the pandemic. In January, the campaign will kick off with a new video in which members from all locals in the sector share their experiences of these challenges. The video project follows member surveys on COVID workload and bargaining priorities, conducted earlier in 2021.
SECTOR VISIBILITY The Community Health campaign kicks off in January.
PRINCE GEORGE, BOWEN ISLAND LOCALS GET FIRST DEALS Two groups of new CUPE members ratified first contracts in November. CUPE 4951-04, Prince George public library workers, overwhelmingly ratified a five-year agreement following six intense bargaining sessions in October. “This (contract) is a huge step that will hopefully improve our relationship with management,” said Unit Chair and bargaining team member Darcie Smith. “This collective agreement ensures that the terms will be fairly applied.” Municipal workers on Bowen Island, members of CUPE 1004, unanimously ratified a three-year agreement after almost a year of bargaining. Bargaining team member Corrina Headley said the contract is a huge improvement for members. “Most of our crew have families and want to be able to afford a home here,” said Headley. “I can’t even imagine how they were getting by before this.” Both collective agreements included wage and benefit improvements for members. CUPE 1004 (City of Vancouver outside workers) and CUPE 4951 (College of New Caledonia) have both welcomed new members from other sectors.
Voting to join CUPE brings workers new rights under the Labour Code, but negotiating their own contracts gives them their own language and processes. The first contract sets a framework for members to build on in future rounds of bargaining.
IT’S A DEAL Municipal workers on Bowen Island, members of CUPE 1004, voted unanimously to ratify their first collective agreement.
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CUPE FOCUS
NATIONAL CONVENTION
GREETINGS FROM THE NORTH From Dawson Creek, CUPE 2403 members Victoria Lynn, Cory Longley, and Stephanie Goudie hang out — at least virtually — with CUPE BC President Karen Ranalletta while tuning in to Convention.
STEERING THE SHIP CUPE National President Mark Hancock congratulates newly-elected Secretary-Treasurer Candace Rennick.
B.C. hosts virtual National convention VANCOUVER | CUPE’s 30th National Convention (November 23–26) had a different look this year, with more than 2,300 delegates gathering behind screens in homes and offices across Canada — rather than under one convention hall roof — to debate the union’s major issues. Nevertheless, delegates left the biennial meeting energized, resolute, and ready for the challenges that lie ahead. CUPE BC President Karen Ranalletta, hosting the online event from Vancouver, welcomed members of the national executive board to British Columbia and thanked CUPE members in B.C. for all their work responding to the catastrophic flooding and mudslides that had caused so much damage in the weeks preceding Convention. Delegates heard from guest speakers including NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, Canadian Labour Congress President Bea Bruske, and Cree writer and activist Maïtée Labrecque-Saganash. Among the resolutions and constitutional amendments on the table, delegates debated and adopted Strategic Directions, which lays out a roadmap for bargaining, organizing, political action, and more over the next two years. They also explored and adopted the Anti-Racism Strategy and heard an update from the Safer Union Spaces Working Group. Throughout the week there were many heartfelt tributes to Charles Fleury, who is retiring after a decade as National secretary-treasurer and 40 years as a CUPE member and activist. Candace Rennick, former secretarytreasurer of CUPE Ontario, was elected to succeed Fleury, while Mark Hancock was re-elected to a fourth term as National president. Other CUPE members from B.C. elected to the executive board were Ranalletta and HEU President Barb Nederpel as regional vice-presidents; Debra Merrier as Diversity vice-president (Indigenous workers); and HEU’s Talitha Dekker as four-year Trustee.
INSPIRING ACTIVISM Convention honoured CUPE 951 First Vice-President Pat Shade as this year’s recipient of CUPE’s National Disability Rights Activism Award. Shade, an active member of his local’s health and safety and human rights and equity committees, is CUPE BC’s Diversity vice-president for persons with disabilities and chair of the PWD committee. He was cited for his many years of work advocating for the removal of barriers for members with disabilities.
MAKING PROGRESS CUPE Ontario Second VicePresident Yolanda McClean and CUPE National Diversity Vice-President (Indigenous Workers) Debra Merrier celebrate passage of the AntiRacism resolution.
RECONCILIATION AND HEALING
CUPE FOCUS
Helping to bring cultures together ELDER SAM GEORGE SHARES HIS HOPES FOR THE UNION AND FOR INDIGENOUS CUPE MEMBERS Elders play a key role in many Indigenous communities. They are respected individuals, recognized as knowledge keepers, who are responsible for preserving and passing along the history and culture of their people. Elders often also serve as advisors, and that is the role Elder Sam George of the Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) recently took up for the CUPE BC Indigenous Workers committee. Elder Sam, a CUPE 1260 member and Aboriginal support worker for Langley School District, has been doing traditional work for more than two decades. Public Employee recently spoke with him about what he hopes to accomplish while assisting the union and Indigenous CUPE members at large.
What are the most important things you think our union should be doing to help advance reconciliation with Indigenous peoples? Right now, the most important part is sharing the truths. My parents, my grandparents, my great-grandparents all attended residential schools. People think of these schools as part of the past, but they are not. You need to hear our stories, the Indigenous peoples that attended these schools. And that is what CUPE is doing by getting people like myself to share our stories. The hardest part is hearing the truth. Before you can have reconciliation, you must accept the truth. By acknowledging Survivors, and recognizing and learning from their experiences, that’s a step in the right direction.
“The hardest part is hearing the truth. Before you can have reconciliation, you must accept the truth.”
RESTORING PRIDE Tsleil-Waututh Elder Sam George (left) and brother Les, frequent guests at CUPE events, brought traditional greetings to open CUPE National Convention on November 23. Elder Sam says the key to healing for Indigenous people lies in relearning cultural traditions and teachings.
What are you looking forward to sharing with Indigenous CUPE members? I want to help them be proud of who they are. For a long time, our people have been held down. We need to advance who we are as Indigenous people in this world by teaching who we are to others. But many of us as Indigenous peoples have forgotten who we are, our traditions, our culture, because for a long time it was not allowed. So now we must relearn our traditions and our teachings. Our parents and grandparents had to want to relearn what was taken from us in residential schools. So now it’s the same for many Indigenous peoples that have to want to relearn and get to a more positive place. We haven’t been in a positive place for a long time, but we are getting there. And that’s what I want to do: help our people get to a positive place. I don’t know all the answers — I’m not saying I have all the answers — but I do have some knowledge, we all do, and we can share. I’ll share my knowledge, [the committee] will share theirs, and we will achieve a positive place for all Indigenous peoples someday.
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Going all-in on childcare
CUPE BC LAUNCHES MAJOR CAMPAIGN TO EXPAND SCHOOL-BASED CARE FOR KIDS 5–12
9 BURNABY | If you’re a parent — or a grandparent — you likely know all about the massive gap between supply and demand for childcare. It’s an issue that impacts everyone — not just parents — because the lack of quality, affordable and accessible childcare prevents thousands of people from fully participating in the COVER STORY economy. We know it impacts CUPE members every bit as directly as it does anyone else. And, as new opinion research commissioned by CUPE BC confirms, there is not only a need but also significant support for publicly delivered childcare. That’s why, in partnership with CUPE National, CUPE BC is building on its record of childcare advocacy by launching a major campaign to push for immediate action to move public childcare forward on the political agenda for government. CUPE’s first campaign for a public childcare system began with advocacy of the “seamless day” concept of early learning. That led to the last provincial budget providing funding for more than 20 pilot projects of the seamless day but focusing only on kindergartenaged kids. Now that those pilots are underway, CUPE BC is shifting to building support for a significant expansion of public childcare for before- and afterschool childcare for kids aged 5–12.
Expanding access in public schools “The work the Horgan government has done to date has been great — especially after more than a decade of inaction by the previous government,” says CUPE BC President Karen Ranalletta. “The fact that the federal government is investing significant resources for childcare spaces for kids aged up to five years is good news, but the provincial government needs to take action on childcare for school-aged kids. And we’ve got the answer: create public childcare spaces in public schools. Ranalletta adds that there is significant public support for expanded public childcare options, and that’s why CUPE BC is asking the public to let local decision-makers know they want action, now. “We know there’s no such thing as a ‘simple’ solution to a complex problem,” she says, “but this is about as close as it gets.” CUPE’s vision for before- and after-school childcare represents the fastest and most efficient way for the provincial government to meet its commitment to deliver the thousands of new spaces necessary. “All we need to do is open the schools a little earlier, provide additional hours of work for under-employed education assistants, and with very little cost we can create new childcare spaces in neighbourhoods and communities all over the province,” says Ranalletta.
ON THE COVER CUPE 2450 member Eva Shandro, an education assistant working in School District 10 (Arrow Lakes) in the Kootenays, shares a moment with a young pupil.
School-based childcare: a common sense approach for kids, parents and decision-makers As CUPE BC’s campaign shows, the arguments for school-based childcare are powerful and convincing. We have the facilities already — there’s almost no need for capital expenditures or construction. We have the trained staff available — qualified education assistants are already in place, and most don’t currently receive full-time hours. For parents, it couldn’t be more efficient: drop your kids at school in the morning and pick them up at the end of the day. No more running around to multiple locations or juggling competing schedules. And for kids this means high quality care with more stability and fewer transitions through their day — this is especially important for some children with special needs for whom these transitions can be very difficult. In short, school-based childcare: • Increases learning opportunities • Provides more customized care and assistance • Reduces transitions and commutes • Increases safety and security • Provides greater accountability • Is accessible to every family who wants it
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Ally support can make a difference
A system that works
The first phase of the childcare campaign includes a social CUPE’s childcare coordinator in B.C., National Representative media component that engages allies politically. Supporters David Fleming, has been working on this issue for more than are encouraged to send a letter to their local school two years and is eager to see results that make a difference. trustees asking them to establish public childcare spaces in “This is a serious issue for families — and CUPE elementary schools and call on the provincial government members — all over the province, not just in cities or to fund it. suburbs,” says Fleming. “Everyone is impacted by The federal government recently announced significant the shortage of spaces, and a lot of people are really resources supporting childcare for kids aged enthusiastic about what we’re up to five, but what’s missing is new spaces proposing. It just makes so much “We know there’s no for school-aged kids. sense to locate before- and aftersuch thing as a ‘simple’ For CUPE BC Secretary-Treasurer Trevor school childcare where the kids are Davies, who has two pre-school-aged kids, during the day — at school. solution to a complex childcare is an urgent matter that really hits “When you really start looking at it, problem, but this is home. it’s hard to understand why we’re not “Obviously we’re not campaigning for already doing this.” about as close as it childcare for the Davies family,” he laughs. As a key part of CUPE’s campaign, gets.” — Karen Ranalletta “But anyone with kids of their own, or Fleming is working with regional anyone who spends time with parents, member organizers who in turn are knows that childcare is absolutely a top-ofconnecting with CUPE local leadership mind issue. There aren’t too many families these days that and members to build support. Fleming says the childcarecan afford to have one parent stay home to care for kids. in-schools concept is quickly embraced once it’s explained. For single-parent families, that’s definitely not an option.” “People understand right away that opening up childcare For CUPE BC, childcare isn’t just about parents and it’s spaces in public schools is the most efficient and costnot just about the workers, adds Davies: “It’s about our effective way to get quality, accessible and universal schoolcommunities. Without quality, affordable and available aged childcare up and running quickly,” he says. childcare, it’s practically impossible to make ends meet. CUPE’s childcare advocacy will continue well into 2022, We know the government is committed to changing that, with a major advertising campaign slated for January, while and we want to help them. That’s why CUPE BC has made regional organizers will continue to work with members in advocating for a public childcare system one of our top their communities to build support. priorities, and it’s why CUPE National is partnering with us To support the campaign, visit publicchildcarenow.ca. to build this campaign.”
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Survey says…. CUPE BC commissioned the opinion research firm Research Co. to conduct a poll on childcare, and it shows that most British Columbians support what we’re urging government to do.
AMONG THE POLL RESULTS ■ Nearly three quarters of British Columbians (74%)
agree that before- and after-school childcare for school-aged kids should be located in the schools the kids attend — it just makes sense because the infrastructure and staff are already there. ■ Nearly three out of four British Columbians
(74%) agree that school-based childcare is an efficient use of taxpayer dollars because it makes use of existing school spaces, staff and other infrastructure. ■ Almost seven out of ten British Columbians
(69%) agree that school-based childcare will have more oversight and parent involvement because it is part of the school district and Ministry of Education. ■ Two thirds of British Columbians (66%) agree
that school-based childcare will be better staffed because it will be operated by existing school staff, including education assistants and early childhood educators.
■ Almost two thirds of British Columbians (64%)
agree that school-based before- and after-school care will be higher quality because it will be education-based and thus an extension of classroom learning. ■ Almost three out of five British Columbians (59%)
agree that school-based childcare is going to be high quality because it will be part of the public school system. ■ More than half of British Columbians (54%)
agree that school-based childcare will be more democratic because school districts are overseen by elected boards of trustees.
Nearly three out of four British Columbians agree that schoolbased childcare is an efficient use of taxpayer dollars.
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LINKING LABOUR
ANN LENNARSON, REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Defending free collective bargaining HOW STRATEGIC PLANNING MAKES A DIFFERENCE AT THE TABLE AFTER ALMOST 30 years with CUPE, working in several provinces in many different capacities from Servicing to Legal to director, I have seen many positive changes in our union. These changes are a result of our collective power and our commitment to social change. I am proud to have been a part of a union that prioritizes making life Ann Lennarson better for working people and their communities. As CUPE’s new regional director for B.C., I am committed to building our collective capacity and activism. In this period of gradual return to a new state of normal, we’ve shown that we’re able to adapt to new challenges amidst an ongoing pandemic. We’ve also shown that we can effectively mobilize and, together with allies, work collectively to take on our adversaries where necessary. While we’ve made important gains in recent years under a BC NDP government that’s willing to work with us, some employers continue to attack workers’ rights as aggressively as ever. With such employers, relying on past practice to protect the gains we’ve made will not be good enough. A critical part of building the power of our movement will be strengthening our ability to organize strategically. Improving workers’ lives and advancing a progressive social agenda requires a mobilized and engaged labour movement, and that means coordinated activism — especially when it comes to collective bargaining.
Proactive, strategic, creative What will we need to better position CUPE for key struggles in 2022? What will we need so we can keep on effectively defending free collective bargaining, resisting concessions, protecting pensions, and winning real wage increases for our members? The answer is simple: we will need to be more proactive, strategic, and creative. We will need more coordination, more engagement and mobilization, more communication, and more support for legal and political fights. This means more strategic planning.
The fight will have to come from the membership base, so part of the strategy will be to identify, engage, develop, and train leaders who reflect the changing face of our membership. When our staff and leadership truly reflect our membership, we become stronger because we know that all voices will be heard and represented. We need to implement strategic initiatives that build stronger and more inclusive locals. Collective bargaining is at the core of what we do. Workers join CUPE to move forward: they know we make gains at the table and that we fight against concessions, two-tier agreements, precarious work, and unsafe workplaces. And so, in 2022, we will continue to fight for real wage and benefit improvements, pensions, full-time secure jobs, and safe and healthy workplaces for all members. The National Executive Board bargaining policy provides the base for strengthening our bargaining power. Working with locals and individual members, as well as with allies, we have already launched a number of initiatives to help prepare members for upcoming rounds of bargaining and to position your work as vital to the community.
A team-based approach Part of being coordinated and strategic at the table means prioritizing a sector team approach — including the assigned sector coordinator and specialists in research, communications and legal — that supports locals and staff at every stage of bargaining. In the coming year we will work towards increasing coordinated and centralized bargaining as much as possible. We’ll also work with the B.C. Division, who can play a critical role in supporting groups in bargaining. Where bargaining is a challenge, there are multiple supports and resources in place that can be relied upon to support locals in overcoming resistance, staying the course, or otherwise making decisions based on a strategic plan. These include everything from cost-share, strike aversion and strike support campaigns to legal and political support, or just having the sector team at the table. The bottom line? We are stronger when we work together in a strategic, unified, and proactive manner.
DAYTIME CUSTODIANS
CUPE FOCUS
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IN SHORT SUPPLY CUPE 389 member Carol Nordby works her shift as a custodian at Sutherland Secondary School in North Vancouver.
LEARNING FROM PANDEMIC LESSONS COVID-19 HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED FOR MORE DAYTIME CUSTODIANS IN B.C. SCHOOLS More than two decades after almost Faced with drastic funding shortfalls, disappearing from B.C. schools, daytime school districts made broad cuts to custodians returned in force during the services, and daytime custodial services pandemic. With emergency funding, school disappeared in many schools. districts across the province brought back CUPE locals representing more than this vital service to help stop the 30,000 members in “Daytime custodial spread of COVID-19 in schools. the K–12 education “The return of daytime system in this services are vital to custodians to B.C. schools province have stopping the spread during the pandemic had for years been of diseases in schools extremely positive results for advocating the the health of students, families, and helping to reduce importance of workers and communities. these services. The the amount of time The services they provide are COVID-19 pandemic staff and students miss a major part of our success raised the profile due to illness. — Karen in preventing the spread of of custodial work COVID-19 from schools into our Ranalletta and its contribution communities,” says CUPE BC to keeping schools President Karen Ranalletta. clean, healthy, and safe. Through one-time pandemic funding, Righting BC Liberal wrongs universal daytime custodial hours were implemented in all B.C. schools for the first Prior to 2000, daytime custodians were time in 20 years. almost universal in B.C. schools. But their “Daytime custodial services are vital to jobs fell victim to broad sweeping cuts to stopping the spread of diseases in schools public services at the hands of the Gordon and helping to reduce the amount of time Campbell BC Liberal government.
staff and students miss due to illness. Our schools need these services, and they should be made permanent across the B.C. K–12 system,” says Ranalletta.
Rebuilding a fixture in B.C. schools With the conclusion of pandemic emergency funding, daytime custodians are once again in short supply. CUPE’s K–12 Presidents Council for B.C. has been advocating at the provincial and local school district levels to not repeat the mistakes of the past but heed lessons learned during the pandemic. Throughout the pandemic, CUPE has been able to bring issues like daytime custodians directly to government via the provincial K–12 education steering committee. Thanks to this work, daily cleaning in schools has become an integral part of the province’s pandemic recovery plan for the K–12 system. Locals have also been actively speaking up at the district level to make daytime custodians a fixture, once again, in B.C. schools.
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CUPE GALLERY
YEARS OF SERVICE Retired members of the Ambulance Paramedics of BC — including past CUPE 873 President John Strohmaier, congratulated by current President Troy Clifford, right — were honoured with a special dinner in October.
HONOURING THE FALLEN CUPE 15 Secretary-Treasurer Debbie Mohabir and Elder Sam George, a CUPE 1260 member, attend the November 8 Indigenous Veterans Day ceremony at Victory Square in Vancouver.
KUDOS FOR SERVICE The BC Library Association recognized several CUPE members during National Library Month (see story, page 17). These included CUPE 339’s Melodie Rae Storey of Nelson Public Library (left above), winner of the Young Adult and Children’s Services award, and CUPE 389’s Kate Longley from North Vancouver City Library (left below), co-winner of the Summer Reading Club award.
SOLIDARITY IN ACTION CUPE members joined picket lines and rallies to support our fellow union members in labour disputes. These included, clockwise from left, UNITE HERE Local 40 members at the Bastion Hotel in Nanaimo, and at the Hilton Hotel in Burnaby’s Metrotown, and IBEW 213 members at Ledcor.
NEWS BRIEFS
ORGANIZING UPDATE CUPE 2086 has welcomed eight new members working for the Village of Granisle. Located in B.C.’s northern interior, the village residents are mostly seniors that depend on municipal workers for such services as grocery delivery — the closest grocery store is a 150-kilometre round trip — and rides to medical appointments. Three more workers from another small B.C. town have joined CUPE 2254, now representing municipal staff for the Village of Slocan. CUPE 1936, representing workers at the WISH Drop-In Centre Society, has welcomed 11 new members that staff the Astoria program — which provides safe and healthy access to washroom and sanitary services. CUPE 458, representing more than 500 municipal workers in the Fraser Valley, has welcomed nine staff from the Chilliwack Crime Prevention Society. These workers provide crime prevention education and other services that enhance public safety in their community. CUPE 873
ENHANCED AMBULANCE SERVICES WELCOMED RICHMOND | Following a summer of record shortfalls and out-of-service delays — thanks in part to a “heat dome” event that saw almost 600 people die from heat-related injuries, coupled with an apocalyptic B.C. fire season that saw the town of Lytton burn to the ground — the Ambulance Paramedics and Emergency Dispatchers of BC (CUPE 873) continued to see resource and staffing challenges reach into the fall. “The extreme heat event was the straw that broke the camel’s back,” said CUPE 873 President Troy Clifford, noting that some people waited for hours for paramedics to respond and faced significant delays getting through to 9-1-1 to reach emergency call takers. In response to strong union advocacy and public pressure, BC Health Minister Adrian Dix on July 14 announced significant changes and enhancements to BC Emergency Health Services governance. The provincial government will fund 85 new full-time paramedic positions and 30 full-time dispatchers, put in place 22 new ambulances and convert 24 rural ambulance stations to provide 24-hour service.
PROVINCIAL BUDGET CONSULTATIONS EXPAND CUPE BC President Karen Ranalletta presented more than 30 recommendations to the provincial government’s pre-budget consultation committee at a hearing in Vancouver this Fall, winding up a series of CUPE BC presentations to several of the committee’s hearings across B.C. General Vice Presidents Sheryl Burns and Michelle Waite also made presentations that focused on specific sectoral topics. Among the 30 recommendations CUPE BC submitted were calls for government action to ensure that the economic recovery from the pandemic benefits those most in need. To read the full submission, visit: cupe.bc.ca.
OPEN DOOR CUPE BC President
Karen Ranalletta (l) and CUPE Legislative Coordinator Martina Boyd at the B.C. Legislature.
CUPE 399
INCREASING VISIBILITY IN THE NORTH PRINCE GEORGE | As you drive along Highway 16 from the east toward the city, you’ll see a big reminder of the public services CUPE 399 outside workers provide. A new billboard features members clearing snow, using a vac truck to repair a water main, collecting residential waste, repairing roads, and maintaining parks. “Our executive and membership wanted to showcase the work we do in a positive and meaningful way,” said CUPE 399 President Diana Forfar. The billboard was produced locally using max metal, a material that can withstand weather conditions. So, unlike many other Proud to serve Prince George billboards, this one will residents. highlight CUPE 399 members and their work for years to come.
CUPE 399 OUTSIDE WORKERS
cope 491
UNITED WAY NOW UNDER CUPE 1760 UMBRELLA BURNABY | More than 20 employees of United Way of BC (UWBC), an amalgamation of the non-profit society’s Lower Mainland entity with five other United Ways in B.C., have become members of CUPE 1760 after a ruling by the Labour Relations Board. In July this year, United Way of the Lower Mainland (UWLM) in Burnaby merged with United Way subsidiaries in Trail, Kamloops, Kelowna, Vernon, and Nanaimo. CUPE filed a Section 35 (Successorship) application with the Board when UWLM refused to voluntarily recognize CUPE 1760 as the automatic representative of the newly amalgamated workers. The Board’s decision in late September confirmed Local 1760 as the bargaining agent for all UWBC employees except those excluded by the Code as management positions.
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CUPE COMMUNITIES
MEMBERS MAKING A DIFFERENCE
May Day issue of Public Employee: made by you
TIMELY INTERVENTION Summerland bylaw officers Darren
Krell, left, and Dan Maja, right, pose with Al Klar on September 17. The local ambulance service gave the CUPE members Vital Link awards for saving Klar’s life.
Are you a hobby photographer? A poet or musician? Perhaps you’re a storyteller who has a way with words, a talented illustrator who does animation, or a gourmet chef with a great recipe to share. If you’re any of these things — and many more — we want to hear from you! Late next April, CUPE BC will be publishing a special May Day edition of Public Employee as a supplement to our regular Spring issue. Produced in time to celebrate International Workers’ Day, this issue of our flagship publication will feature content — articles, photos, and graphic images — generated entirely by our members from across the province. Written contributions should be a maximum of 250 words; photos should be two megabytes (MB) or higher. Please send your contribution by February 1, 2022, via e-mail, to: info@cupe.bc.ca
CUPE members lauded for life-saving actions CUPE members in two communities were congratulated this Fall for their quick responses that helped save lives. In Summerland, two bylaw officers who are members of CUPE 1136 (Summerland Municipal Workers) were publicly recognized for their instant reaction and use of skills that helped save the life of a man who suffered a heart attack. Darren Krell and fellow bylaw officer Dan Maja were visiting Range Rider Canopies on June 21 when the company’s owner, Al Klar, had a heart attack in his office. Krell and Maja sprung into action immediately, checking for Klar’s pulse and calling 9-1-1 before quickly beginning CPR with chest compressions. Ambulance paramedics arrived shortly afterward and, after using a defibrillator to keep Klar alive, brought him to the hospital where he received medical treatment and recovered. In Nanaimo on September 22, a group of city workers who noticed a house on fire ran to the scene to help an elderly couple escape the building. CUPE 401 members Mike Reid and Wayne Playford, along with contract truck driver Mark Sheree, were working on a City of Nanaimo infrastructure project on Estevan Road with CUPE 401 member Mike Calvary, a City of Nanaimo servicing person, and Chelsea Groeneveld, a flagger for another company. When their foreman noticed smoke and flames coming from the back of a house down the street, the workers responded immediately. “I didn’t even think about it, it was just what had to be done,” said Reid. “When I got to the house and the woman said her husband was still inside, and was obviously very upset, all I thought about was, where is he and let’s find him. We were going on adrenaline.”
CALLS TO ACTION CUPE National Diversity VicePresident Debra Merrier (far right) with sister union members at the CUPE Surrey Schools tent during the third annual Red Dress Gathering at Bear Creek Park in the Fall. The event raises awareness about missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls across the continent.
MEMBERS MAKING A DIFFERENCE
CUPE COMMUNITIES
BC Library Association honours CUPE members Five CUPE members who work in libraries have been honoured by the BC Library Association for dedication and service, collaboration, championing intellectual freedom, and building community trust. The members are CUPE 339’s Melodie Rae Storey, Nelson Public Library teen and literacy coordinator; CUPE 389’s Kate Longley, a teen librarian at North Vancouver City Library, and co-winner Danielle Wing, a children’s librarian at North Vancouver District Library; CUPE 23’s Allison Jones, a systems librarian at the Metrotown branch of Burnaby Public Library; and CUPE 402-02’s Tania Thomas, the newcomer family services librarian at Surrey Libraries. Congratulation to all winners, and thank you to all library workers throughout B.C. who provide excellent public services and make their communities stronger. In recognition of National Library Month, CUPE BC featured the award winners on our website. To read their stories, go to “News” at cupebc.ca
CONNECTING THROUGH STORIES Somali parents and children proudly show their certificates of participation in Somali Storytime at Surrey Libraries with BCLA award winner Tania Thomas, a member of CUPE 402-02.
‘INDIGENIZED’ CUPE LOGO
Emphasizing connection PRINCE GEORGE | In a unique collaboration between labour and Indigenous peoples, CUPE 399 has teamed up with a local First Nations artist to incorporate his artwork in their T-shirts. Clayton Gauthier, a Cree/Dakelh artist from Prince George, created the images with various combinations of orange, black and white, placing CUPE 399’s logo in the centre. The Local paid for the art and was given the copyright. CUPE 399 President Diana Forfar says the Local got the idea from a member whose wife works for the Northern Health Authority, which did something similar. “We thought that making T-shirts from this new design would be a great way to celebrate our union’s connection to local First Nations while donating all proceeds to the Orange Shirt Day (September 30) campaign,” says Forfar. CUPE 399 MEMBER One of artist Clayton Gauthier’s designs incorporating the CUPE 399 logo; Local member Kevin Devereux posing with the new t-shirt.
The artist says the piece is filled with meaning, noting that the man and woman at the bottom of the image represent the older generation praying and holding up local youth, future chiefs, and leaders. “Having the love of men and women equally brings balance,” says Gauthier. “The eagle brings blessings of love and light. When an eagle finds a mate, they mate for life: even if the mother or father passes on to the spirit world, the other will not find a mate again and will fly alone for the rest of their journey here, knowing that their love is waiting on the other side. The Eagle also sits with the sun bringing love, light and new beginnings into our lives.”
SUPPORTING THE WORK OF TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION To mark the first observance of Truth and Reconciliation Day on September 30, CUPE BC made two donations of $5,000 each to the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society and the Orange Shirt Society. The donations are to assist these organizations for the essential work they are doing to support residential school survivors and shine more light on the damage done to generations of Indigenous people. CUPE BC is also purchasing 200 copies of Spirit Bear: Honouring Memories, Planting Dreams, by Cindy Blackstock, and will be sending a copy to every CUPE local in the province.
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POWER IN NUMBERS
TREVOR DAVIES, SECRETARY-TREASURER
Helping members respond to challenges in difficult times HOW CUPE BC’S PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BC MUNICIPAL SAFETY ASSOCIATION IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR CUPE MEMBERS’ MENTAL HEALTH In my role as secretary-treasurer, I safety professionals and advocates together to discuss policy and regulations and to develop strategies for improving workplace have always looked for innovative health and safety and education. ideas and new programs to help CUPE BC has a strong connection with this association, often locals deliver the support that our sponsoring its annual conference and sending committee 100,000 members need on an members to attend its workshops and events. This long-standing ongoing basis. As a provincial union relationship has led to a discussion between our organizations with 164 affiliated locals, CUPE BC about a new certificate program developed in response to the hears every day about the many overwhelming challenges brought on by the pandemic. Recently challenges our Trevor Davies we were offered two spots for the first-ever class of local leaders and “Locals face a lot more the Psychological Health and Safety for Employees members face to ensure that public services are than technological Certificate Program. Instead of accepting the offer of delivered during these difficult times. two spots, I countered by asking for all 40 spots for challenges. They also face One of our most well-known programs is the CUPE members. And we got them. an overwhelming need two-phased pandemic fund, which provided more than $400,000 in grant funding for locals to support mental health Supporting each other’s mental health to purchase the technology they needed to for their members.” The program, created by Dr. Joti Samra, featured four adapt to virtual servicing. While this program sessions each of four hours in length, delivered over has been well received, locals face a lot more two months. Topics covered everything from how to stay healthy than technological challenges. They also face an overwhelming and resilient through stressful times, to developing practical need to support mental health for their members. Responding strategies for achieving work/life balance. to this challenge, CUPE BC has stepped up during the pandemic Ken Pommier, president of CUPE 338 (Kelowna civic workers), by providing a free webinar on mental health and by looking into says the program was especially helpful in showing members training options for members. During this time, we also received how to support each other. He says he appreciated all the tools a call from our friends at the BC Municipal Safety Association provided, including those aimed at helping start conversations (BCMSA). with members about the importance of mental health. He highly
Bringing health and safety professionals together My association with the BCMSA goes back to the days I worked as the occupational health and safety advisor for the City of Colwood. The association’s role is to improve worker health and safety by sharing knowledge and resources: the BCMSA brings municipal
recommends the program for everyone. CUPE members graduated from the program at the end of October. I want to congratulate all the participants, who are now better equipped to support fellow members in their workplaces. FOLLOW TREVOR ON TWITTER @TreasurerTrevor
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE Save on Everyday Purchases
PUBLISHED BY
Discounts for CUPE Members Using Your Smart Phone Download a CUPE BC version of the ESM App to save on everyday purchases from hundreds of businesses including national chain retailers, service and travel providers.
How It Works
Canadian Union of Public Employees, British Columbia Division 410 – 6222 Willingdon Ave. Burnaby, B.C. V5H 0G3 POSTAL AGREEMENT # 42016512 T: 604.291.9119 TOLL FREE: 1.877.263.8568 E: info@cupe.bc.ca
• Install the CUPE BC version of ESM on your smart phone.
PRESIDENT
• View merchant savings organized by “Category.”
SECRETARY-TREASURER
• Tap merchants to view available savings offers and tap on an offer for redemption details. • You typically show the offer on your smart phone at payment in physical locations or enter a code for online purchases.
Getting Started To get the ESM App, go to your app store (Google or Apple). When you first download the ESM App, you will be asked for the “organization code” for CUPE BC. It’s: cupebc.
How You Save • Check out the CUPE BC “Exclusive Offers” to save hundreds annually with exclusive ESM-discounted group rates for home, condo & renters insurance, and preferred pricing for smart phones & plans, Internet and TV. • Check out the “Travel and Play” category on the ESM App to save hundreds on your next trip. • When shopping online or out shopping in person, “tap the ESM App” to save additional hundreds per year on your everyday shopping purchases. For complete details, download the welcome letter for CUPE BC members at esmobileapp.com/files/WelcomeCUPEBC.pdf
Karen Ranalletta
Trevor Davies EDITOR
Dan Gawthrop CONTRIBUTORS
Clay Suddaby Janet Szliske Greg Taylor COVER PHOTO
Janet Szliske PHOTOS
CUPE Communications, Josh Berson, Dennis Livingstone GRAPHIC DESIGN
Pete Tuepah and Nadene Rehnby, Hands On Publications
CUPE BC acknowledges that our province of British Columbia is located on the homelands of Indigenous nations and cultures.
Help us build public childcare!
THERE’S A MASSIVE SHORTAGE OF CHILDCARE SPACES FOR SCHOOL-AGED KIDS IN B.C.
We’ve got the solution: before- and after-school childcare located in public schools Before- and after-school childcare in schools just makes sense on so many levels: Improved accessibility and fewer transitions for kids; Cost-effective delivery of high-quality childcare spaces; and, One-stop for parents — just drop your kids at school in the morning and pick them up at the end of the day — no more running to multiple locations or juggling competing schedules.
CUPE BC and CUPE National are partnering to advocate for this great plan.
LEARN MORE and TAKE ACTION TODAY!
at www.publicchildcarenow.ca PM#42016512